County scene - August 1

Following its successful launch last year, the Kernow Show of Strength returned to the streets of Truro as competitors from as far as Worcester competed for Kernow's strongest man crown.

Once again, competition was fierce but it was a local competitor, Richard Birchmore, from Helston, who claimed the overall title, with Tom Greenaway, also from Helston, coming second.

There was a prize for athlete of the day which was won by Plymouth's Guy Servis.

The prize was chosen by the athletes and the guest referee Laurence Shahlaei, former 'England's strongest man' and current 'Britain's strongest man' and 'world's strongest man' finalist.

The event raised money for the charity Bosom Buddies (www.bosombuddiesuk.com).

The competition was sponsored by TR1 Fitness gym (donating and handing out free water), www.mytshirtprinters.co.uk (sponsoring the competition's pink t-shirts), Elite Training Services LTD (local company sponsoring the trophies for the top three places), www.geneticsupplements.co.uk (sponsoring supplement prizes); Truro Tesco (sponsoring free water and bananas for crew and athletes) and St Erme Village Committee (sponsors of the marquee).

CAST Fly Fishing Club's latest evening competition at Stithians was a productive affair for new junior member Alex Platt.

He caught his first rainbow trout of the evening on an experimental home tied red lure before switching to a dry daddy to bag a further four fish.

Congratulations to Alex for his winning bag of 5 fish for 6lb 5oz. Coming in second, also with a bag limit of 5 was the slightly more senior John Dolley with a weight of 5lb 13oz.

All his fish came to a Hare's Ear nymph fished on a floating line. Also fishing the daddies was Richard Keest who picked up two fish for 2lb 8oz to take third place. The hot spot for the evening seemed to be by the dam where the deeper water may be the clue as the fish look for cooler water in the recent heat wave.

Fish seemed to come to the surface late on when the brisk south easterly wind dropped off. The next competition is Saturday August 10 fishing from 5.30pm to 8.30pm meeting at the water sports centre car park at about 5.00pm. New members always welcome.

The secretary, Graeme Clement, can be contacted at gewc@farnedesigns.co.uk

Athletics

NOW MOLLY IS BRITISH SCHOOLS' CHAMPION:

Molly Long underlined her position as one of the best young female 800m runners in Britain this summer as she added the British Schools' title to her English success.

The 17-year-old Truro School runner from Padstow, travelled to Dublin with the England team knowing she was the fastest runner in the field that also boasted the best athletes in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

But that pressure sat easily on Long's young shoulders as she a tactically mature race to deliver a superb victory and compete a notable schools' double.

She said: "With all the travel I decided that I would sit behind the front girl and put the pressure on her.

"With 300metres to go I kicked into the lead and opened a small gap and then with just 150m left I kicked again and the gap grew.

"The only mistake I made was I slowed down approaching the line but I still won and I am very happy with that."

Long admits the recent couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur and she is still taking in the enormity of what she has achieved this summer.

She said: "It still hasn't sunk in and I still can't believe I won the English Schools' title a few weeks ago, it doesn't seem real.

"That was the one which was mentally bigger for me as there was so much pressure on me to win but I am delighted to have won the British title as well I what was my first victory overseas in an England vest.

"And it was such a great trip and I made lots of new friends. Hopefully I will be doing more of that in the future."

Long won't be the only Cornwall athlete who achieved international honours this season as Connor Swan has just been called up into the Wales team for the Celtic International Games this Saturday.

The 17-year-old Cornwall AC member from Connor Downs, near Hayle, has been selected to compete in the javelin at Colwyn Bay and is eagerly awaiting his international debut.

"With this selection, which is my first ever call-up, this has been my best season so far," said Swan, who is the county and South West Schools' champion.

"The match is against Ireland, Scotland and a guest team and I am really looking forward to it."

CHARLOTTE LEADS THE WAY:

Top Cornwall AC performances in the South West League match held at the Carn Brea Leisure Centre came from Charlotte Cayton-Smith, who smashed her own county Under 17 1500 metre steeplechase record by a massive 24 seconds, clocking 5.23.7, a time which moves her into fourth place in the Under 17 UK rankings. The Girls' team were on top form, with 14 of the 21 club winners coming from their ranks, including the day's two triple winners, Georgia Doyle-Lay and Alice Vage. Georgia was a comfortable winner of the Under 15 300 metres (42.9) but had to fight hard to hold off team mate Karenza Hurr in the 200 metres, with both girls sharing the same time, 28.6 seconds.

A comfortable win in the long jump (5 metres 21) completed a successful day.

U20 athlete Alice was in action in the Senior Women's competition and together with team mate Lamorna Newman won five of the nine individual events.

Multi eventer Alice set new personal best marks in the 400 metres (62.6) and javelin (32 metres 68) and completed a successful day with a 1 metre 45 clearance in the high jump.

Lamorna was in a class of her own in the 200 metres, winning by almost three seconds, before beating another Cornwall AC athlete, the rapidly improving Lottie Jose, in the triple jump, leaping 10 metres 46, with Lottie posting a best jump on the day of 9 metres 99.

A sprint double from Abbie Hewitt, who won the 200 metres (28.1) and 300 metres (43.9) and Alisha Webb's victory in the triple jump (9 metres 41) helped Cornwall AC to top spot in the Under 17 Women's competition and there were further wins for two South West League debutants, Holly Rowe in the Under 13 shot (8 metres 03) and Layla Stuart in the Under 15 javelin (24 metres 59).

The pole vault provided further success in the Boys results with Dan Hubble winning the Under 17 competition, clearing 3 metres 25 and Fyn Caudery setting a new personal best of 3 metres 05 to win the Under 15 age group, with team mate Cieran Trevena (2 metres 35) in second place.

There were further victories for Thomas Fisher in the Under 13 Boys 1500 metres (5.03.4), Jack Nancarrow in the Under 15 Boys 300 metres (37.9), newcomer Dane Barnicoat, who threw the discus 30 metres 44 in the Under 15 age group and javelin thrower Connor Swan, who won the Under 20 competition with a massive throw of 47 metres 63.

Thursday August 15: U14s (Sept 2013): Skills/games. Friday August 16: Pupils who are Year 6 now and will be secondary school in September 2013: Skills and games.

Application forms can be downloaded from the CRFU website under Player Development.

If there are any queries please contact Dave Thomas, who stresses that the days cater for all abilities, on 07515 689 366.

SKILLS SESSIONS:

During the 2013-14 season the Cornwall RFU will be running development sessions in various age groups on Monday nights.

These are open to players of all abilities and during the course of the season will cover all aspects of the game.

The aim is that all players will further develop their skills of the game to achieve their full potential.

On the first Monday in the month, the U15s sessions will take place at Truro College from 7-8.30pm.

On the second Monday in the month, the U13s' sessions will be held and applicants can choose a centre from Launceston, Newquay/Tretherras School, Penryn College, Pool School and Penwith College.

All the sessions will be from 6-8pm, apart from Pool School which will be from 7-8.30pm.

On the third Monday of the month, it will be the turn of the U16s at Truro College (7-8.30pm) and the U14s at the same centres as the U13s.

All applications on the CRFU website under Player Development.

Darts

CORNWALL SUPER LEAGUE:

Queens Arms A (Constantine) consolidated their position at the top of Men's Premier West with a 10-2 success away at Britannia Inn C (Truro) and boast a six-point lead and a game in hand on second-placed White Hart. The Camborne side were equally productive and secured a 9-3 win at Western Inn (St Austell) aided by two good performances from Paul Cook (26.16) and Kevin Bray (26.43).

Astro Club (Penzance) and Kernow Club (Truro) were evenly matched and a draw proved to be the ideal outcome from a high scoring fixture.

Carl Ninnis (100x17) top scored for the hosts with Dave Mills (100x18) replying for Kernow.

Jez Campe (26.37) and Gary Beckerleg (26.13) were at the helm to steer The Tavern (Newquay) to a 7-5 success at St Rumons (Redruth) while Holmans Social Club (Camborne) defeated Heathcoat Social Club (Redruth) 8-4 and Britannia Inn a (Truro) won 10-2 at Clipper Way Inn (Falmouth).

Bethel Social Club (St Austell) were the biggest winners in Ladies' Premier East and in defeating Ploughboy Inn (Saltash) 5-2, had Tyrian Jesse (19.03) as their form player.

League leaders Churchill Bars (Wadebridge) received good service from Kath Gill (19.97) when edging out Wainhouse Corner Inn (Bude) 4-3, while in another close encounter Jubilee Inn (Torpoint) won by the narrowest of margins against Gunnislake Social Club.

Michelle Davis (20.58) impressed for the winners while the visitors had Anna Johnson (19.78) giving a good account of herself.

In the remaining two fixtures White Hart B (Menheniot) and Red Lion (St Kew) both won by the odd game of seven at Westgate Inn (Launceston) and White Hart A (Menheniot) respectively.

Holmans Social Club (Camborne), who had Sue Shepherd (19.27) again prominent, made the most of Four Winds' inactivity to move within four points of the Ladies' Premier West leaders.

In the other three fixtures there were 5-2 victories for Beacon Inn (Camborne), Albany RFC A (Redruth) and Britannia Inn (Truro).

ALICE IN WONDERLAND:

At the trial/practice day for the prospective Cornwall youth players held at Mount Charles SC, the girls' round robin competition was won by Alice Horwill, writes Peter Mutton.

Alice also won the girls' knockout competition, beating Chelsea Hancock 2-1 in the final.

Rhys Julian won the final 2-1 against Shane Underwood in the boys' U18 round robin competition and in the boys under 21 round robin Luke Hankins Beat Kieran Heard 2-0.

The U21s and U18s combined for a knockout competition and in the final Jake Cartwright won the first leg in 15 darts but Stuart Rodda went on to win by 2 legs to 1.

During the day, 180s were scored by Liam Carlyon, Josh Symons, Tyler Ripley, Ryan Prideaux, Jake Cartwright and George Jones.

There will be another trial/practice session on Sunday August 25 starting at 11am at Mount Charles SC. Any boy or girl under 21years of age on September 1 2013 is welcome to attend.

Ben Hawken won a half its competition and the prize was two tickets to the Wayne Mardle exhibition at the Q Bar, Bodmin on Friday August 9. Anyone wishing to attend should be able to buy tickets on the door at £6 each.

Football

FA TESCO SKILLS COMES TO CORNWALL IN AUGUST:

The FA Tesco Skills Programme comes to Cornwall this month. The FA's football coaching programme for 5-11s, FA Tesco Skills, is expanding nationwide giving more children the opportunity to experience high quality coaching.

The Skills programme started in 2007, and the current team of 106 full-time Skills coaches, hosted by 26 County FAs, has delivered more than four million child places and supported 21,500 teachers in 7,500 primary schools, along with over 3,000 Charter Standard clubs, 4,500 teams and over 10,000 grassroots coaches. The programme's unique child-centred philosophy has established it as the leading grassroots youth football programme in England.

It's foundations are The FA's '4-corner' coaching model, developing children socially, technically, physically and psychologically, giving them more than just football skills but life skills such as confidence, teamwork, decision making and problem solving.

The coaching is also based on the FA Future Game with the aim of developing young players who are comfortable on the ball, creative and have good game understanding.

Boys and girls of any ability and experience are encouraged to join The FA Tesco Skills programme, to experience expert football coaching this summer, with free sessions through the holidays.

For more information or to sign your son/daughter up please visit www.TheFA.com/TescoSkills

Women's rugby

CHANCE TO TRY OUT SPORT WITH FREE SESSIONS:

Starting today, the Queen Bees Girls' Rugby Team will be holding Free Open Training Sessions every Thursday evening throughout August at Porth Beach, Newquay between 6pm and 7.30pm. for all those women and girls that might be interested in trying out Rugby as a new challenge.

The Team has players from many areas including Camborne, Newquay, Redruth, St Ives, and Truro and welcomes girls from all over the county.

This is an exciting time for the sport with the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup being hosted in France next year and with Women's 7's now an Olympic sport.

The Open Sessions will consist of non-contact sporting activity, team building and socialising, they offer a great opportunity for new people to come meet the team and get to know us.

The sessions are open to all women and girls between the ages of 10 to 18 years old and all you will need is comfortable clothing, such as T-shirt and shorts, something to drink and the will to join in and have fun.

Don't worry if you've never played before, rugby is a sport that caters for a variety of physiques, fitness and skill levels so regardless of your shape and abilities there will be a position to suit you, and there is a huge range of ability, skill and age amongst the team so if you are looking for a new way of keeping fit, meeting new people and having fun, get in touch and come along!

For more information contact Natalie on 07540 338018 or email: natalie.bridge@newquayqueenbees.co.uk

Martial Arts

LEARN SELF DEFENCE FOR FREE WITH JIU JITSU CLUB:

In co-operation with Cornwall Sports Partnership and as a part of the nationwide project called Sportivate, local Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club run by European Champion Raphael Dos Santos is offering free six-week courses for 14-25 year olds.

This is an exciting opportunity to discover this fashionable sport and learn some useful self defence.